Mike Nolte Book Signing Party and Thoughts by Kristin
I am proud to announce that Mike, a dear friend to me and my family for many years now, will be doing a book signing for his book Burned But Not Broken at Serendipity Accents on October 4th. This special event at Serendipity Accents coincides with our 3rd Anniversary Party/Fall Open House. Books can be purchased at Serendipity Accents for $25.00. Mike is donating 100% of his book sales to a foundation he started after this tragedy.
Mike's journey after a near-fatal accident is truly an amazing story. Please take a moment to go to his story at http://michaeljnolte.com/video.html and listen, truly listen, to how one second can change your whole life. We must not take things for granted and learn to live for today.
Through tragedy, sorrow, grief etc., we can learn to see life differently. These experiences that impact us to the core of our existence can cause us to react in one of two ways. We can choose to "Wake Up," say "Thank You God for this day," and learn to live differently. It is a gift to realize that our time here is short and that we should appreciate each other more, treasure each and every moment, and believe and know with your heart that God does listen and he answers our prayers. Although our prayers may not be answered on our time, we do get the answers to the "whys" that fill our lives.
Or we can choose the other path that so many of us get caught on when tragedy strikes. That path is filled with grief, sorrow, and the feeling that we can't face another day. Believe me, I have been there. With the death of Mom and Dad, I felt jealous, abandoned, and just plain angry at the world. Time does heal, but the emptiness that has been left is overwhelming at times. "Why my parents Lord? What did I do that was so terrible???" Not always rational thoughts, but boy, are they real. As Mike and I have talked since his accident and the death of my parents, we discovered our circumstances and the feelings we experienced have forever changed our life as we knew it. Nothing would or could be the same again.
We awoke one day and "POOF," it was a whole new story line. What happened to what I knew to be my future? And what about my plans? In my case I envisioned my life to be totally spent to the end with my parents as the main characters. I dreamt that my kids would always spend time with their Grammy and Grandbob. All my plans of how it was supposed to be disappeared . . . GONE . . . in a split second.
How could I, or we, Mike and I, even have a thought that in the middle of this beautiful story called life, the director shouts "CUT" and a new director is brought in with a totally different script - not what was rehearsed by any means. Don't actors walk off the set? Why can't I do that? "This is not how it is supposed to go!" I scream. But as an actor does, we continue with the new script. We stumble through our lines, try to learn the new lines, and with practice, get through to the next scene. We still don't know the ending, but we can be the best actors and live our life as if this was the final scene.
The path we both chose is, the path that leads to a new beginning. Through all the "Sh_ _" that life throws at us, if we can just pause and know that we can survive and come out, somehow and someway, with God by our side, a better person. Then we can truly know that we chose correctly. Our journey will be filled with script changes, along with character changes, and the scenes may be all different, but how we choose to live out this movie called "LIFE" is ultimately up to us. We all hope we are in the fairytale, feel-good, "happily ever after" movie called "Life." But, let's face it. I guess that could be extremely predictable and somewhat boring.
Remember, live like each day as if it was your final scene. Live, laugh, love, forgive, respect and count your blessings each and every day.
P.S. In this world that is so fast paced, we tend to forget to say the important things to those we care about. So try something each day for the next 3 days. Pick someone that you may not have spoken to or seen in awhile or someone you may see every day, but due to the busyness of life you have neglected. Say those few words that may change a person's day or put a smile on their face. Right now, this week, take the time. Say "I love you'," "You matter to me," or a simple "How are you?" "I was thinking of you today," could mean the world to someone. Don't waste time. Make the most of the script you have been given and remember. Those lines we rehearsed may change and we may have to learn a whole new script. And more than likely, the change will occur before you can memorize the new lines of the story.
Thanks to all of you and the difference you have made in my life. Some of you I have known for a lifetime, and others of you, God placed in my life recently. No matter what, I am grateful to all that have touched my life. I thank God each day for the people that are brought into my life. If I have not said it lately, let me take this moment to say, "I love you and I care about you. And by the way, I was thinking of you today."
Love to all,
Kristin Cravens
Mike's journey after a near-fatal accident is truly an amazing story. Please take a moment to go to his story at http://michaeljnolte.com/video.html and listen, truly listen, to how one second can change your whole life. We must not take things for granted and learn to live for today.
Through tragedy, sorrow, grief etc., we can learn to see life differently. These experiences that impact us to the core of our existence can cause us to react in one of two ways. We can choose to "Wake Up," say "Thank You God for this day," and learn to live differently. It is a gift to realize that our time here is short and that we should appreciate each other more, treasure each and every moment, and believe and know with your heart that God does listen and he answers our prayers. Although our prayers may not be answered on our time, we do get the answers to the "whys" that fill our lives.
Or we can choose the other path that so many of us get caught on when tragedy strikes. That path is filled with grief, sorrow, and the feeling that we can't face another day. Believe me, I have been there. With the death of Mom and Dad, I felt jealous, abandoned, and just plain angry at the world. Time does heal, but the emptiness that has been left is overwhelming at times. "Why my parents Lord? What did I do that was so terrible???" Not always rational thoughts, but boy, are they real. As Mike and I have talked since his accident and the death of my parents, we discovered our circumstances and the feelings we experienced have forever changed our life as we knew it. Nothing would or could be the same again.
We awoke one day and "POOF," it was a whole new story line. What happened to what I knew to be my future? And what about my plans? In my case I envisioned my life to be totally spent to the end with my parents as the main characters. I dreamt that my kids would always spend time with their Grammy and Grandbob. All my plans of how it was supposed to be disappeared . . . GONE . . . in a split second.
How could I, or we, Mike and I, even have a thought that in the middle of this beautiful story called life, the director shouts "CUT" and a new director is brought in with a totally different script - not what was rehearsed by any means. Don't actors walk off the set? Why can't I do that? "This is not how it is supposed to go!" I scream. But as an actor does, we continue with the new script. We stumble through our lines, try to learn the new lines, and with practice, get through to the next scene. We still don't know the ending, but we can be the best actors and live our life as if this was the final scene.
The path we both chose is, the path that leads to a new beginning. Through all the "Sh_ _" that life throws at us, if we can just pause and know that we can survive and come out, somehow and someway, with God by our side, a better person. Then we can truly know that we chose correctly. Our journey will be filled with script changes, along with character changes, and the scenes may be all different, but how we choose to live out this movie called "LIFE" is ultimately up to us. We all hope we are in the fairytale, feel-good, "happily ever after" movie called "Life." But, let's face it. I guess that could be extremely predictable and somewhat boring.
Remember, live like each day as if it was your final scene. Live, laugh, love, forgive, respect and count your blessings each and every day.
P.S. In this world that is so fast paced, we tend to forget to say the important things to those we care about. So try something each day for the next 3 days. Pick someone that you may not have spoken to or seen in awhile or someone you may see every day, but due to the busyness of life you have neglected. Say those few words that may change a person's day or put a smile on their face. Right now, this week, take the time. Say "I love you'," "You matter to me," or a simple "How are you?" "I was thinking of you today," could mean the world to someone. Don't waste time. Make the most of the script you have been given and remember. Those lines we rehearsed may change and we may have to learn a whole new script. And more than likely, the change will occur before you can memorize the new lines of the story.
Thanks to all of you and the difference you have made in my life. Some of you I have known for a lifetime, and others of you, God placed in my life recently. No matter what, I am grateful to all that have touched my life. I thank God each day for the people that are brought into my life. If I have not said it lately, let me take this moment to say, "I love you and I care about you. And by the way, I was thinking of you today."
Love to all,
Kristin Cravens
